The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-12
THE ASSAULT UPON FERRY.

Condition of the Wounded Man-Antecedents
ofAubertin, His Assailant.
Special to the Indianapolis journal
LONDON, Dec I'm Jules Ferry passed q
feversh night. bur was able to leave his bed this
morning. During the day he received thou
sands OF letters and cards from persons express
ing sympathy, and a large number of Senators
pay their respects and inquire to the wounded
statesman's condition. All those who called
signed the hospital register.
At midnight the condition Of NJ. Ferry was
less favorable than it had been throughout the
day and evening, owing, in great measure. to
the fatigue aud excitement OF .he day. iuci6ent
to receiving q large number OF callers, etc His
febrile symptoms have very much increased.
Aubertin was examined before the Judge
d. instruction to-day. He had lost none of his
determination, and boldly declared that al
though he was an antirevolutionisr he was sorry
his lack of skill had prevented the accomplish
ment of his purpose of killing NJ. Ferry. Others,
however would succeed in dong what he had
failed to do.
From information received from Paris to-day
it appears that Aubertin, alias Berckheim. the
assailant of NJ Jules Ferry, has long borne the
reputation OF being dissolute fellow. whose
innate depravity renders him capable of almost
young woman named Granger, and it is
learned that just previous to his attempt to kill
III. Ferry, he wrote to her stating his intention,
and advising ner, in the event of his successful
accom- piishmeut of his murderous purpose to
leave France and take refuge with certain OF
her friends residing in England, where he would
join her. Aubertin maintains logged de-
meanor. refusing to answer questions and mani
Testing no desire to ask any.
Aubertin has displayed some talent as an
author and likewise as an inventor. but his
ted fa.lur0S
pursuits by reason of his poverty have unbal-
anced his mind. When asked to reveal the
names of his accomplices he promised to do
Tuesday, if in the mean time they should fail
to carry out the work they set out to do-that
of taking attempting to take the lives of the
members of the Rouvier Ministry. If, however,
they are true to their oaths he will not betray
them.
The usher who carried Aubertin's card to NJ.
Ferry in the Chamber of Deputies. on Saturday,
warned NJ Ferry not to see Aubertin, saying
that he did not like the mans appearance. NJ
Ferry was talking with friends at the time, and
forgot the warning. When NJ. Ferry reached
the lobby. Aubertin gave him sealed letter,
and III. Ferry was reading the letter when
Aubertin fired the shots. Aubertin had sent to
M. Ferry the card of Edouard Herve, bearing a
few words of introduction to NJ. Ferry, in favor
of Aubertn. Aubertin also sent in q slip of
psper upon which was pencied the following
"a Lorrainer desires short conversation
with You, and begs you to come and see him."
The revolver with which the shots were fired is
almost toy, being of No. bore. The third
shot graZed M. Ferrys temple. Wnen seized
Aubertin shouted, Il Lorraner; have
avenged Lorraine and am satisfied" NJ. Ferry
staggered when shot, but did not faint Deputy
De Lanessan. who is doctor. examined him
the spot and found that his wounds were
not of a serious nature. although. had
the woud-bs assassin pointed his
volver less slantingly. they would probably
have been fatal. During his examination Au-
bertin said ION Tuesday Charles Ferry and
Ferron will be assassiuated." In Aubertn's s
pooket-book was found a note of the days pro-
eramme. He had written: 81 shall send in
Herve's card. That will bring the secret agent
of the Orleans family rushing toward me. +"
The prisoner appears to be Impecunious. He
tried to borrow money to go to Versailles during
the congress. his intention being to shoot II.
Ferry il the latter were elected.
Aubertin is a man of ffty-three years short
in stature. with gray hair. He recognized
by several journalists as having given them
ridiculous pamphlets. A friend of Charles
Ferry states that a short time ago he overheard
in a cafe a group OF men who were evidently
revolutionists. discussing some subject. when
one of them remarked that measures had been
taken to put Jules Ferry out OF the way
A number of copies of the Ferryist paper La
Republioue Franchise were found, annotated
and marked in Aubertins garret in the Palais
ROYAL, where ne lived with an elderly woman
who had sunk her fortune in his numerous
was a file-maker at Rombach. He failed in bus
iuess and hanged himself. Aubsrtin's violent
whimsical temper drove his wife seek di-
vorce. On one occasion he tried to kill her. He
has travelled through Germany, England ard
Belgium, and has been imprisoned for black
mailing. He is an educated man, and has pub
lished q number of school-books. including a
French thesaurus. His landiady says that his
misfortunes maddened him. and that he is
dangerous lunatic.